The Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group has released a Draft Supplemental Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment for the Cypremort Point State Park Improvements Project Modifications. The modifications under consideration include replacing the original proposed breakwater system project feature with other recreational use features. The Cypremort Project, with the breakwater system, was initially approved in the July 2018 Final Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment #4 and had an estimated cost of $4.48 million. Since Restoration Plan #4 was approved, an alternative source of funds was found for the breakwater system. The Draft Supplemental Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment evaluates three action alternatives: Alternative A

The Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group has approved the Final Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment #6: Restore and Conserve Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats. We released the draft restoration plan on December 20, 2019 and accepted public comment through January 21, 2020. The final plan includes three projects, which together, will create or restore more than 1,900 acres of marsh, beach, and dune habitat and protect more than 11.5 miles of shoreline: West Grand Terre Beach Nourishment and Stabilization project: Creates and restores beach habitat, dune habitat, and intertidal marsh habitat and protects shoreline along Barataria Pass and Barataria Bay on

As evaluated in the Final Supplemental Environmental Assessment for the Point-aux-Chenes WMA Recreational Use Project (PDF, 43 pages), one component of the overall project, the boat launch for pirogues, kayaks, and other non-motorized vessels, will be moved from one location to another. The new location, on top of the Terrebonne Parish 4-3C Levee, provides access to tidally influenced brackish and intermediate marsh without requiring clearing of vegetation or causing adverse effects to sensitive habitats. No additional funds will be needed to implement this change. This Draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment was released for public comment in January 2020. Final Supplemental Environmental Assessment for the Point-aux-Chenes Wildlife

The Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group is considering design alternatives for the Large-Scale Barataria Marsh Creation: Upper Barataria Component project. The preferred design alternative, included in a draft restoration plan now open for public comment for 30 days until April 20, 2020, would create 1,207 acres of intertidal marsh in Upper Barataria Bay. The trustees will hold a public webinar to present the plan on April 2, 2020. The plan, fact sheets in English and Vietnamese, and the executive summary in Vietnamese are all below. The plan, Draft Phase II Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment #3.3 (PDF, 155 pages) includes evaluation of three design alternatives

The Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group is considering several restoration projects to restore for injuries to marine mammals and oysters.  Those projects are included in a draft restoration plan now open for public comment for 30 days through April 20, 2020. The trustees are also holding a public webinar on the plan on April 8. The plan, fact sheets in English and Vietnamese, and the executive summary in Vietnamese are all below. The plan, “Draft Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment #5: Living Coastal and Marine Resources – Marine Mammals and Oysters” (PDF, 218 pages), includes one preferred marine mammal project, and three preferred oyster projects.

After consideration of public comments we received, Louisiana’s Phase 2 Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment #1.3 (PDF, 149 pages) is now finalized. Released as a draft in November 2019, the plan includes a bird restoration project on Rabbit Island, and a habitat restoration project at Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. The final approved combined cost of the projects is approximately $37 million. These costs cover engineering and design, construction, monitoring and adaptive management, and operations and maintenance. The Rabbit Island project will restore 87.8 acres of the island’s original 200-acre footprint. The project will help provide more habitat for birds

The Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group is considering changes to the Cypremort Point State Park Improvements Project initially approved in the July 2018 Final Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment #4. One component of the project has already been completed by the State of Louisiana with other funds, so we’ll be considering new alternatives. In Restoration Plan #4, the Louisiana TIG selected 19 projects intended to compensate for recreational use opportunities that were lost as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Among them was the Cypremort Project at an estimated cost of $4.48 million. The project proposed enhancing fishing and recreational

The Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group has released a draft supplemental environmental assessment (pdf 43 pg) proposing changes to the Point-Aux-Chenes Wildlife Management Area (PACWMA) Recreational Use Enhancement Project. The original project was approved in the July 2018 Final Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment #4. If approved, one component of the overall project, the pirogue (i.e., small boat) launch, would be moved from one part of the PACWMA to another. No additional funds would be needed to implement this change. We invite you to comment on the draft supplemental environmental assessment through March 2, 2020. Public comment can be submitted online or by

The Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group has released a draft supplemental environmental assessment for the Wetlands Center Project Modification. Public Comment Period: December 23, 2019 – January 21, 2020 Comments on this Draft Supplemental EA can be submitted during the comment period by one of following methods: Online: http://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/restoration-areas/louisiana By mail (hard copy), addressed to: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service P.O. Box 29649 Atlanta, Georgia 30345 Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group Draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment for the Wetlands Center Project Modification

The Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group has released a draft restoration plan that proposes three restoration projects for the Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats restoration type. The Trustees are hosting a webinar January  8, 2020, and we're inviting the public to comment on the plan until January 21. Together, the proposed projects would create or restore more than 1,900 acres of marsh, beach , and dune habitat and protect more than 11.5 miles of shoreline. The total estimated cost is approximately $209 million. Draft Plan Summary The “Draft Restoration Plan and Environmental Analysis #6: Restore and Conserve Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitat” (PDF,

The Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group is continuing restoration planning to address injuries caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and we would like your input regarding natural resource restoration opportunities in Louisiana. We will consider a range of restoration activities under the “Birds” and “Restore and Conserve Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats” restoration types. You can find information on these restoration types and criteria we use to evaluate project ideas in the Trustees’ Programmatic Restoration Plan and its “Restoring Natural Resources” chapter. You may submit new project ideas, or revise something you’ve already submitted, through the Trustee Council or Louisiana project idea submission portals by January 17, 2020.

The Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group has prepared the Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group Draft Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment #1.3: Rabbit Island Restoration and Shoreline Protection at Jean Lafitte Historical National Park and Preserve (Phase 2 RP/EA #1.3) proposing construction activities to help restore injured resources under two restoration types identified in the Final PDARP/PEIS: “birds” and “habitat projects on federally managed lands”. The two projects were approved for engineering and design (E&D) in a 2017 restoration plan entitled Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group Final Restoration Plan #1: Restoration of Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats; Habitat Projects on Federally Managed Lands; and Birds (Phase 1 RP #1). The

The Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group has released the Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group Draft Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment #1.2: Barataria Basin Ridge and Marsh Creation Project Spanish Pass Increment and Lake Borgne Marsh Creation Project Increment One (Phase 2 RP/EA #1.2), proposing construction activities for the restoration of wetlands, coastal, and nearshore habitats injured as a result of the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill. The two projects were approved for engineering and design (E&D) in a 2017 restoration plan entitled Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group Final Restoration Plan #1: Restoration of Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats; Habitat Projects on Federally Managed Lands; and Birds (Phase 1 RP #1). The

The Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group is beginning the process of drafting a Deepwater Horizon restoration plan to address the restoration goal of Restore and Conserve Habitat. The plan will consider projects under the “Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats” restoration type and under the following restoration approaches: create, restore, and enhance coastal wetlands; restore oyster reef habitat; create, restore, and enhance barrier and coastal islands and headlands; and restore and enhance dunes and beaches. Development of the Restoration Plan will be consistent with the Trustees’ Programmatic Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan (PDARP), the Oil Pollution Act, the National Environmental Policy Act,

The Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group is planning restoration activities to address injuries caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. We would like your input regarding natural resource restoration opportunities in Terrebonne, Lafourche, Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, and St. Bernard Parishes in Louisiana. We will consider a range of restoration activities under the Restore and Conserve Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats restoration type. More specifically, we will consider these restoration approaches under this restoration type: Create, restore, and enhance coastal wetlands, Restore oyster reef habitat, Create, restore, and enhance barrier and coastal islands and headlands, and Restore and enhance dunes and beach.

The Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group has released a draft supplemental restoration plan proposing changes to the Lake Charles Science Center and Educational Complex project, previously approved in the July 2018 Final Restoration Plan #2. If approved, the project site would be updated to co-locate the future science center with the Lake Charles Children’s Museum at the planned Port Wonder Facility, a future education and recreation development. The Trustees notified the public of the considered changes in October 2018 and are soliciting public comment on the draft supplemental restoration plan until May 20, 2019. We will also hold a public

The Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group has released its Final Phase 2 Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment #1.1: Queen Bess Island Restoration (PDF, 77 pages). The plan is consistent with the Trustees’ Programmatic Restoration Plan and includes activities for restoring natural resources and services injured or lost in Louisiana due to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The Queen Bess Island Draft Restoration Plan evaluated two design alternatives for restoration of bird habitat, plus a no action alternative. The preferred alternative would create 30 acres of brown pelican habitat and 7 acres of tern and skimmer habitat. The Trustees presented the draft

The federal government shutdown has affected the online portal for submitting public comments on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group’s (LA TIG) Draft Restoration Plan #1.1: Queen Bess Island Restoration Project. However, interested parties can continue to comment through the official submission deadline of January 22, 2019, via regular U.S. mail to this address: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service P.O. Box 49567 Atlanta, Georgia 30345 Comments will also now be accepted via email at LATIG@la.gov through the duration of the comment period. The comment period began with the release of the draft restoration plan on December 7, 2018. Interested parties have

The Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group has released its Draft Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment #1.1: Restoration of Queen Bess Island. The draft plan is consistent with the Trustees’ Programmatic Restoration Plan and proposes activities for restoring natural resources and services injured or lost as a result in Louisiana caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. We will hold a public meeting on January 3, 2019 at 9:30 a.m., in association with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission meeting at the Wildlife and Fisheries Headquarters Building, 200 Quail Drive, Baton Rouge, LA, 70808. Verbal comments of the draft restoration plan

The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group (Louisiana TIG) has released the Final Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment #4: Nutrient Reduction (Nonpoint Source) and Recreational Use. This Final Restoration Plan describes and proposes restoration project alternatives considered by the Louisiana TIG to improve water quality by reducing nutrients from nonpoint sources and to compensate for recreational use services lost as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Final Restoration Plan #4 Final Restoration Plan #4: Appendices A-G Final Restoration Plan #4: Executive Summary